His love to his enemies he shows, by praying for them, when they most outrageously and blasphemously persecuted him to the death: He said, Father forgive them, they know not what they do. The cry of their blasphemies and his innocent blood went up to heaven against them, but Jesus makes haste to send up the cry of his prayers for them, that they perish not for ever: and therefore the first words he speaks on the Cross, is the words of his intercession, Luke 23. 34. which should be an admirable pattern ⟨p. 423⟩to teach us to go, and do likewise. Never was there a greater man on earth, nor did ever man suffer such wrongs, and yet you see how he is affected: He that bids us pray for our enemies, doth it himself, in a harder case than ever can be ours. If we will be true disciples, we must show it by forgiving men their trespasses, and by praying for them: especially when we are about to die; if we would ever have God forgive us, we must forgive men their trespasses against us. This prayer of Christ was heard, as appears by the conversion of many of those enemies of his after his death: Yet observe, he prays not for such as sinned of malicious wickedness, but for such as sinned out of ignorant zeal, or general profaneness of Nature: many of the people were carried with blind zeal, and many of the Gentiles were ignorant of the true story of the life, and cause of Christ for which he suffered, those were curable, and for those he prays. And this may be a comfort to us, he that can observe this difference in his persecuting adversaries, will much more show it, in considering the frailties and ignorances of his own servants that desire to please him, though they fail of that they desire to do, through strength of temptation or other weakness and ignorance. Again note, it is not enough for the party offending, that the party offended do forgive, but God also must be sought unto for forgiveness. Lastly, our Saviour shows his religiousness in his manner of dying, by his devout care for his own soul showed in his prayer, when he said, Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit, Luke 23. 46. when he had be queathed all other things, as Peace to his Disciples, his body to the Jews, his garments to his Tormentors, Paradise to the Thief, pardon to the penitent, and his Mother to his Friend; now only remained his Soul, and that he commends to God.
His loue to his enemies he shewes, by praying for them, when they most outragiously and blasphemously persecuted him to the death: He said, Father forgiue them, they know not what they doe. The crie of their blasphemies and his innocent bloud went vp to heauen against them, but Iesus makes haste to send vp the crie of his prayers for them, that they perish not for euer: and therefore the first words he speakes on the Crosse, is the words of his intercession, Luke 23. 34. which should be an admirable paterne ⟨p. 423⟩to teach vs to goe, and doe likewise. Neuer was there a greater man on earth, nor did euer man suffer such wrongs, and yet you see how he is affected: He that bids vs pray for our enemies, doth it himselfe, in a harder case than euer can be ours. If we will be true disciples, we must shew it by forgiuing men their trespasses, and by praying for them: especially when we are about to die; if we would euer haue God forgiue vs, we must forgiue men their trespasses against vs. This prayer of Christ was heard, as appeares by the conuersion of many of those enemies of his after his death: Yet obserue, he prayes not for such as sinned of malitious wickednesse, but for such as sinned out of ignorant zeale, or generall prophanenesse of Nature: many of the people were carried with blinde zeale, and many of the Gentiles were ignorant of the true story of the life, and cause of Christ for which he suffered, those were curable, and for those he prayes. And this may be a comfort to vs, he that can obserue this difference in his persecuting aduersaries, will much more shew it, in considering the frailties and ignorances of his owne seruants that desire to please him, though they faile of that they desire to doe, through strength of temptation or other weaknesse and ignorance. Againe note, it is not enough for the partie offending, that the partie offended doe forgiue, but God also must be sought vnto for forgiuenesse. Lastly, our Sauiour shewes his religiousnesse in his maner of dying, by his deuout care for his owne soule shewed in his prayer, when he said, Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit, Luke 23. 46. when he had be queathed all other things, as Peace to his Disciples, his body to the Iewes, his garments to his Tormentors, Paradise to the Theefe, pardon to the penitent, and his Mother to his Friend; now only remained his Soule, and that he commends to God.
